FORT WORTH – When Dustin Holly played for Rider nearly two decades ago, the Raiders were the team everybody feared.

District titles were expected. Regional championships weren’t surprising in the least bit.

It’s been that way for a good chunk of the time since he graduated in 2002, too. However, the past few seasons havenn't seen Rider snatching district titles and last year it was rival Wichita Falls High School getting all the acclaim during its historic run.

In Holly’s first season coaching his alma mater, he’s seen the Raiders thrive as an underdog while earning their Masters in perseverance. The latest example was Monday's 1-0 victory over Fort Worth South Hills in a Region I-5A area match decided in the eighth round of penalty kicks.

Rider goalie Zack Majewski saved three of the Scorpions’ chances, including a diving lunge to his right on South Hills' last attempt to touch off a gold and black celebration after the 6-5 shootout advantage.

“We just never give up and always play with a chip on our shoulder because people don’t expect us to do anything because we’re seeded so low,” Majewski said. “We’ve just got to prove them wrong.”

After setting the school record with eight ties during the regular season, these Raiders have needed more than 80 minutes to decide both of their playoff games.

A few days ago, it was Rylan Havins’ booming free kick that provided advancement after the Raiders tied Saginaw in the final minutes of regulation. Rider didn’t need a game-tying goal at Farrington Field, but it did have to withstand a strong South Hills push in the final minutes of the second overtime session.

Two years ago, Rider finished in third place and rode a stingy defense plus the addition of Josh Peloquin to the regional finals. Defender Spencer Bristo sees some similarities between the 2016 group and this year’s resilient third-place squad.

“We fight until the end no matter what and that reminds me of the team two years ago,” Bristo said. “This year has been hard. It’s been frustrating too. We’re a good team but I don’t know – we can’t finish so we tie a bunch of games.”

Rider (12-4-8) only had one tie before entering 5-5A, but seven of its 12 district games ended in draws. Throw in the fact the Raiders were tied after regulation in each playoff contest, and a shootout like Tuesday night’s seems unavoidable.

“When you come to a practice after a tie, they’d always be down but we talked about it,” Holly said. “It means you fought all the way and you’re learning so many lessons for later, for something like this.”

South Hills had a strong first half as Rider spent much of the 40 minutes chasing the ball, but the Raiders generated chances in the second half and were especially dangerous in set pieces.

Anything can happen in penalty kicks, and after the best-of-five shootout was tied at three, sudden death was needed. Colsen Welch, Trance Saenz and Justin Parmeter calmly drilled their shots into the net, while Majewski came up with his third save of PKs.

One win stands between Rider and the regional tournament. It’s either going to be the team that knocked them out last year (Birdville) or the Coyotes, who tied Rider twice this year and finished higher than them in the 5-5A standings.

Not one of the Raiders has ever even beaten the Coyotes, a trend that was unthinkable until only a few years ago. No matter who awaits Rider, there’s no denying they’ll be hungry to prove themselves yet again.